In short
Most common fake: Emails with generic greetings such as Dear user or Hello PayPal member.
Safest check: Open the PayPal app or type www.paypal.com into a new browser window and log in to see any real alerts.
Where to report it: Forward the whole suspicious email, or a suspicious text message, to phishing@paypal.com, then delete it.
What PayPal says
PayPal says genuine messages address you by the full name on your PayPal account, and that passwords and verification codes should never be shared with anyone, not even someone claiming to be PayPal customer service. It advises never giving personal, card or account details by email, text or phone. Source: PayPal
Common fake PayPal messages
These are the 5 shapes a fake PayPal message usually takes. They are listed in the order we see them most often, and none of them is something PayPal itself does.
- Emails with generic greetings such as Dear user or Hello PayPal member
- Urgent warnings that your account will be limited unless you act immediately
- Links asking you to log in or verify your account on a look alike website
- Unexpected attachments that may contain malware
- Phone calls with a faked caller ID asking for codes or account details
PayPal's real web addresses
Genuine PayPal links and emails use these domains. Look at the part just before the first single slash: paypal.com is real, but paypal-support-center.com or paypal.com.account-check.top are not.
- paypal.com
Scammers can also hide a fake link behind real-looking text. Learn how to read a web address.
How to check a PayPal message safely
- Open the PayPal app or type www.paypal.com into a new browser window and log in to see any real alerts
- Check the greeting, as genuine PayPal messages use the full name on your account
- Look for the PayPal logo with a checkmark next to the message in supported email inboxes
- Contact PayPal only through the Contact page in the PayPal Help Center
How to report a fake PayPal message
- Forward the whole suspicious email, or a suspicious text message, to phishing@paypal.com, then delete it. Official details on paypal.com
Also report it to the official fraud service in your country. See the worldwide list.
If you clicked, paid or shared details
Act quickly. It makes a difference.
- If you entered card or bank details, call your bank now using the number on your card, and ask them to block the card.
- If you entered a password, change it at paypal.com, typed into your browser yourself, and turn on two-step verification. Do not use any link from the message.
- Expect follow-up calls or messages pretending to help, sometimes claiming to be from PayPal security. Never share one-time codes and never move money to a "safe account".
- Forward the whole suspicious email, or a suspicious text message, to phishing@paypal.com, then delete it, then delete the message.
More help: Phishing links and fake login pages and what to do after a scam.
How to protect yourself next time
Use a password manager
It only fills in your password on the real website, so a look-alike login page gets nothing. It also makes a different password for every account, so one leak doesn't open the rest.
Free: Bitwarden has a free plan, and even the password manager built into your phone or browser beats reusing one password everywhere.
- NordPass Partner link Password manager with a free plan and a family plan for up to six people.
Turn on two-step verification, ideally with a security key
With two-step verification, a stolen password isn't enough on its own. A hardware security key goes further: it simply doesn't work on a fake site, so it can't be phished.
Free: Two-step verification is free. Switch it on in the security settings of your email, bank, WhatsApp and social media accounts today.
- YubiKey (Yubico) Partner link A small USB or NFC key you tap when you log in. It will not work on a fake site.
Compare the tools that help, and what each costs
Links marked Partner link may earn us a commission, at no cost to you. It never changes our advice, and the free option always comes first. Affiliate disclosure.
Questions people ask
Does PayPal send messages asking for payment or personal details?
PayPal says genuine messages address you by the full name on your PayPal account, and that passwords and verification codes should never be shared with anyone, not even someone claiming to be PayPal customer service. It advises never giving personal, card or account details by email, text or phone.
How can I check if a PayPal message is real?
Open the PayPal app or type www.paypal.com into a new browser window and log in to see any real alerts. Check the greeting, as genuine PayPal messages use the full name on your account. Look for the PayPal logo with a checkmark next to the message in supported email inboxes. Contact PayPal only through the Contact page in the PayPal Help Center.
How do I report a fake PayPal message?
Forward the whole suspicious email, or a suspicious text message, to phishing@paypal.com, then delete it.
I clicked a link in a fake PayPal message but did not enter anything. Am I at risk?
Opening a link is far less serious than filling one in. Close it, and if you need your account, reach it by typing paypal.com yourself. Clicking does tell the sender your number is live, so expect more messages for a while: forward the whole suspicious email, or a suspicious text message, to phishing@paypal.com, then delete it.
Have you had this one?
Tell other people what the message said and how it reached you. It helps someone recognise it before they tap.
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Official sources and further reading
We check our pages against official advice from the organisations themselves and from government agencies.
- Report suspicious messages (PayPal)
- Learn about fake messages (PayPal)